Superior documentation, a thorough yet casual writing style and a real “Holy F___balls!” moment make this a treat to read. Jacobson tries to find a balance between the times when secrecy really did save lives and the times when it was simply used to sweep embarrassing (and lethal) failures under the carpet. Is the grand reveal true? I don't know. But it's certainly possible, and I wouldn't put it past anyone involved. ( )

Very entertaining but the author does not fully understand some of the science and engineering she speaks of. Not enough corroborating evidence for the very interesting claims made about the Roswell indecent. Otherwise, a fun read about the history of goings on at Area 51. ( )

Although there was an enormous amount of detailed information in this book, the detail did not bog me down as a reader. On the contrary, it was fascinating and a page turner! I really enjoyed the author's efforts to explain the history of Area 51 and all related areas of government involvement. ( )

This could have been a great book about the development of top secret spy planes that were tested at Area 51. It was overall a great book, until the author delved into the usual UFO/Alien conspiracies most associated with Area 51. Her interview with someone known as an engineer makes numerous outlandish claims, which the author presents as absolute truth. Her theory about the origin of the object that crashed at Roswell was different, so that was interesting. This book also covers some of what was done at the Nevada Test Site, which I greatly enjoyed. Overall, I think the author ruined what seemed like a well written book with a very badly done conspiracy filled chapter. It could have been five stars. ( )

Area 51, a U.S. military installation in the Nevada desert about 75 miles north of Las Vegas, has attracted rumor and speculation for decades, fed largely by the government’s refusal to discuss exactly what goes on there. In “Area 51: An Uncensored History of America’s Top Secret Military Base,” journalist Annie Jacobsen tries to get to the bottom of these secrets. What she comes up with is an informative history of Cold War spy planes sandwiched between an outrageous -- and thinly sourced -- tale involving Josef Mengele, Josef Stalin and flying saucers.

Armed with numbingly intensive documentation, Ms. Jacobsen has put together a set of strong allegations about Area 51’s covert history... “Area 51” is liable to become best known for sci-fi provocation. But the book is noteworthy for its author’s dogged devotion to her research.

Area 51 is the most famous military installation in the world. And it doesn't exist. Located a mere seventy-five miles outside of Las Vegas in Nevada's desert, the base has never been acknowledged by the U.S. government-but Area 51 has captivated imaginations for decades.

Myths and hypotheses about Area 51 have long abounded, thanks to the intense secrecy enveloping it. Some claim it is home to aliens, underground tunnel systems, and nuclear facilities. Others believe that the lunar landing itself was filmed there. The prevalence of these rumors stems from the fact that no credible insider has ever divulged the truth about his time inside the base. Until now.

Annie Jacobsen had exclusive access to nineteen men who served the base proudly and secretly for decades and are now aged 75-92, and unprecedented access to fifty-five additional military and intelligence personnel, scientists, pilots, and engineers linked to the secret base, thirty-two of whom lived and worked there for extended periods. In Area 51, Jacobsen shows us what has really gone on in the Nevada desert, from testing nuclear weapons to building super-secret, supersonic jets to pursuing the War on Terror.

This is the first book based on interviews with eye witnesses to Area 51 history, which makes it the seminal work on the subject. Filled with formerly classified information that has never been accurately decoded for the public, Area 51 weaves the mysterious activities of the top-secret base into a gripping narrative, showing that facts are often more fantastic than fiction, especially when the distinction is almost impossible to make.